Sk8man

Welcome battlehammer! You have a bunch of guys on this site with a treasure house of information and vast experience many of them up in the western section near you and they have shared a lot of it here with the rest of us. I'm sure as you get the feel of things there they will be willing to help you out (other than maybe at Derby times ) Have a great season.

I had a Convector right out of the box that didn't work at all no drag on it and spool wouldn't engage. I said the heck with it and ordered a Magda Pro45 to test it out...figured I wouldn't be out all that much if it didn't do the job..it functions fine. I wouldn't want to be using it for tuna though and for more serious stuff (salmon or derbies) I rely on my new Daiwa's. DJ717 hit things on the head though....if you are a part time recreational fisherman on a limited budget or maybe just starting out I wouldn't totally dismiss the Magda Pros. Heavy duty sports fishermen fishing very frequently with a good budget or charter folks are a different matter and need to be a lot "pickier" about their equipment and "durability" and "reliability" are critical - especially when the equipment is being used by multiple and often inexperienced folks.

I know in the original post it was asked about someplace close to Watkins and Screwie Lewie's has been suggested and it is near Fairhaven which is quite a distance. I had my Cannons serviced there a couple years ago and I was able to ship them there (from Canandaigua) and have them shipped back and it wasn't all that bad price-wise as I recall. I'd ask them if you can do that still. They were real nice folks and reasonable. On the other hand though they have some great Lake O tackle there if you're into the drive

Looks like they have reduced the diameter about 02 /1000's too from many other brands of the same lb test and 100 yd spool...sweet.

I know some folks here will probably say go to a Daiwa Saltist or Okuma Convector or else one of the even more expensive reels but for the money the Magda Pro 45's aren't bad and they will hold1000 ft and a decent amount of mono backing as well. They are a little bigger in size than the 30's but they seem a little heavier duty to me (a good thing) and yet they are light enough that they don't swivel around in the rod holder etc. The drags on them may not be as smooth or durable long term (not sure on that) as some of the more expensive reels but in my view they aren't bad at all. If I were deciding between just those two reels I would go with the 45 if it were me.

Makes me feel even more fond of the Finger Lakes

I don't want to burst any bubbles but I've built a few computers and never yet have found too many parts made in the USA most come from Taiwan, Japan or China. A computer that says Made in USA should probably say "assembled in USA". I too try to buy American where possible and support local stores as much as I can but sometimes it is nearly impossible to get what you need that is truly "Made in America". Many if not most American companies sub out their actual manufacturing to China and third world countries. The whole globalization thing has taken over and companies are looking primarily at the "bottom line" and not a sense of "nationalism" anymore....I think that trying to support as best we can our guys and sponsors on this website is a step in the right direction in keeping the money here at least and having some accountability for the quality of the products through our feedback. In the final analysis regarding the fluorocarbon line I think it boils down to what you have faith in (and perhaps positive experience with) and the judgment about which is "best" is based on that.

Yeah problem with that is we probably wouldn't have been too attractive to the ladies with the strings attached to "Mr. Happy so we could find him in that cold weather

Geez Mark you could start your own reality series

They are wonderful and the good old "American Pride" is very evident in your creations WTG!

Vanish is total cow s**t......and I know this flies in the face of the Seaguar lovers out there (and it is good leader material but expensive when used in quantity) but Vicious 17 lb test is not bad....and 200 yds for about $16 goes a long way. I've been trying it out for a while now and no problems thus far.....not sure about the abrasion resistance yet though....and unfortunately it is Made in Japan.

If it were me I'd be looking at separate units. If one component goes down you still have something to go with while the other is repaired or replaced rather than fishing totally "blind" .